Demodectic Mange, Dermatophilosis, and Other Parasitic and Bacterial Dermatologic Diseases in Free-Ranging White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the United States From 1975 to 2012

Abstract

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a common and widespread North American game species. To evaluate the incidence, clinical manifestations, demography, and pathology of bacterial and parasitic dermatologic diseases in white-tailed deer in the southeastern United States, we retrospectively evaluated white-tailed deer cases submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study from 1975 to 2012. Among 2569 deer examined, bacterial or parasitic dermatologic disease was diagnosed in 88 (3.4%) individuals, with Demodex spp (n ¼ 37; 42.0%) and Dermatophilus congolensis (n ¼ 19; 21.6%) as the most common causes. Demodicosis was significantly more common in deer older than 2 years and was most often detected in the fall; no statistically significant sex predilection was identified. Affected animals had patchy to generalized alopecia, often distributed over the head, neck, limbs, and trunk; microscopic lesions included epidermal crusts and cutaneous nodules with mild perifollicular, lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. Dermatophilosis was most common in males younger than 1 year that were often found dead. Crusting, erythema, and alopecia occurred on the face, ears, and distal extremities. Less commonly, infectious dermatologic diseases were associated with other bacteria (n ¼ 13; 14.8%), fungi (n ¼ 5; 5.7%), ectoparasites (chiggers, lice, mites, and ticks; n ¼ 11; 12.5%), and larval nematodes (n ¼ 7; 8.0%). Population-level effects of these diseases in white-tailed deer are likely minimal; however, due to their dramatic presentation, demodicosis, dermatophilosis, and other infectious skin diseases can be of concern to hunters and, in some cases, may have zoonotic potential.

Demodicosis in Chamois (Rupicapra rupicaprasubsp.rupicapra) in the Italian Alps, 2013–14

“…Deep scrapings and a complete histopathologic evaluation are necessary for etiologic diagnosis. Different from our chamois, severe generalized alopecia associated with poor body condition and emaciation have been described in roe deer, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and black-tailed deer with demodicosis (Bildfell et al 2004;De Bosschere et al 2007;Gentes et al 2007;Nemeth et al 2014). However, similar to our chamois, less severe lesions associated with normal body condition have been reported in a mule deer and an elk (Desch et al 2010).…”

“…Lymphoplasmacytic perifolliculitis has been also described in black-tailed deer (Bildfell et al 2004) and roe deer (Bosschere et al 2007). Conversely, scant inflammatory cells or no inflammatory response around mite-filled follicles were observed in mule deer (Gentes et al 2007), white-tailed deer (Nemeth et al 2014), and European red deer (Izdebska et al 2013). Indeed, local immunosuppression caused by the mites and allowing them to survive in the host skin has been described (Ferrer et al 2014).…”

“…Indeed, local immunosuppression caused by the mites and allowing them to survive in the host skin has been described (Ferrer et al 2014). Dermal nodules consisting of cutaneous glands and hair follicles distended and impacted with yellowwhite caseous material and numerous mites were described in African buffalo and cervids (Wolhuter et al 2009;Desch et al 2010;Nemeth et al 2014). Nodular dermatitis in cervids seems to be a Demodex spp.…”

Identification ofAustwickia chelonaeas cause of cutaneous granuloma in endangered crocodile lizards using metataxonomics

“…The disease resulting from A. chelonae infection is called dermatophilosis. Dermatophilosis has been reported in a number of vertebrates, including a variety of mammals (Aubin et al, 2016; Caron et al, 2018; Gebreyohannes, 2013; Lunn et al, 2016; Nemeth et al, 2014), birds (Scaglione et al, 2016; Shearnbochsler et al, 2018), reptiles (Hellebuyck et al, 2012; Tamukai et al, 2016; Wellehan et al, 2004) and humans (Amor et al, 2011; Aubin et al, 2016; Burd et al, 2007). This disease is an important zoonotic skin disease in domestic animals leads to significant economic losses (Ndhlovu & Masika, 2016; Shaibu et al, 2010).…”

Parasitic Perifollicular Dermatitis in the Egyptian Lesser Blind Mole Rat (<i>Spalax leucodon egyptiacus</i>)

“…Others live on the skin surface (non-burrowing mites), fur, and other sites (Hoppmann and Barron, 2007;Jimenez et al, 2010;Kahn et al, 2010;Lohse et al, 2002). Nemeth et al (2013) described lesions occurring in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that microscopically consisted of epidermal crusts and cutaneous nodules with mild perifollicular lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. Gamasid mites were observed in association with L. egyptiacusand P. serrata in the present study, and were attached to the epidermis and resulted in destruction of keratin layer but with no significance histopathological changes.…”